Spellsong

[roleplaylifer]

(Please post your character in the OOC before posting here.)

Panting heavily, the bard's mind raced almost as fast as her forearm as she brought her blades to parry.....

The expected clash of steel made her teeth grind as the larger human's blade bore down heavily on her own, the dweomer etched steel of her long knife unmarred by the brutal contact.

Changing tactics, almost as she predicted he would, the man shifted slightly. Reaching forward to take up the hilt of his weapon in both hands now, his strained grunt mixed with her responsive gasp he brought his full strength to bear against his slender foe.

Alexis swore softly as she slowly retreated a step, straining under the assault, her biceps already screaming beneath the pressure of locking blades with him. Why the hell did this always have to happen to her?

The rogue continued to advance, blathering now about how his guild's honor would be restored, her blood the ultimate testiment to their supposed supremacy. In truth, it was just about enough to make her sick.

Her lone eye belied the soft almond shape of elven lineage, the other darkened forever behind the hardened leather of the eyepatch she wore. He had almost blindsided her....it had been at the last possible second she had felt more than heard his advance.....drawing herself into a barely adequate defense just in time as her attacker lunged forward.

Long minutes later, it had come to this.....a test of strength.....a test she couldn't hope to win against the brawny human, and he knew it. Shuffling backwards almost steadily now, she was determined to make it as hard on him as she could. Every few steps she lashed out at him with her feet, hard soled boots connecting solidly on nearly every strike with the tender flesh of his shins.

She could almost taste the brief tang of fear as her mind continued to race, Alexis grasping at the smallest of straws.....almost hoping that someone would hear the muffled noise somehow in the near deafening din of the marketplace. Strangely enough, there was no constable in sight. No doubt this was arranged conveniently with a bribe by her adversary. Silently, her brain ticked off the few tricks she had left that she hadn't used. It wasn't often she was caught so off guard, and now she had to find a way out.

The bard could almost feel him hesitate as a slow grin spread across her face, her lone emerald orb locking his gaze for just a moment. Calling her silent bluff, her roguish opponent gave a heavy shove forward, the crude steel of his blade screaming shrilly against her own.....

Leaning forward, not even hoping to resist his bludgeoning, Alexis could see both blades clearly just inches away from her face as she fought for just one more precious second.....

Grinning wildly for just a moment, even as she felt the surety of her footing beginning to fail, her lips pursed. Without warning, the shapely contours opened for a brief instant, spitting a stream of saliva into the man's face.

While hardly deadly in and of itself, her opponent flinched backward for just an instant in surprise. Having lost the offensive for just that second, his half-elven opponent took full advantage, rolling neatly away from his faltering lunge. Even as her twin blades turned his to the side as she spun away from him, she brought the steel back to her with the speed of a dervish, cutting a clean swath through her opponent's leather armor.

Cursing loudly at the cut, he turned back to her.....more chagrined than actually injured.

"There....ye've tested me. And havin drawn first blood, and ye no longer havin the advantage o' surprise o'er me, I'd suggest ye be endin this right now, aye?"

Even now, she dropped into a much more practiced stance. Flipping the blades over carefully, their flat edges now hovered harmlessly above her wrists, points downward toward the ground. Her legs spread wide, the half-elf kept herself low to the ground, expecting her answer to come at any moment.....

With a soft growl, her unnamed assailant sheathed his sword, the weapon sliding easily into concealment beneath his loose tunic. Soundlessly, he retreated....backing slowly down the alley in which they had been fighting.....his eyes never leaving her own.....

She let him go....watched him disappear into the throng of humanity that was yet another city marketplace. Tense seconds later, and she finally began to relax.....rising from her aggressive looking crouch. It was then that she heard it....a lone eyebrow arching in surprise.

The sound of soft applause.

 

[Sky Jade]

"Now you stay here, understand?"

Selina stroked the eyeridge of the young queen dragon lightly with fingers as she spoke. She gave a soft rumble in response and pulled away, disappearing deeped into the forest. Selina gave a soft sigh as she watched her dragon companion disappear before she pulled her black cloak around her lithe form and tie it closed. She pulled the hood up and used it to hide most of her face.

She would have loved to take the young queen with her, but Rutha was more than likely to get attacked on sight. She also hadn't wanted to hide herself like this, but this town was right on the edge of her family's kingdom and she wasn't wanting to be seen. Nothing bad would have happened to her, she just wasn't wanting to be pulled into any politics at the moment.

As she walked through the front gate, she gave a curt nod to the guards. To them, she was just another lonely traveler. She threaded her way carefully through the crowd of humanity, glancing at the shops. She was needing more supplies for the road, like a couple more daggers, though most of the shops had seemed to be closed. She foundt it odd that they were, but she would find out soon enough.

It was the sound of metallic upon metallic which caught her attention through the loud atmosphere. She thread her way carefully through the crowd to see two fighters going at it, though to her it was clear who was going to win. The male dismissed at once, not even knowing him. His style of fighting was to use bare strength and no wits. The other fighter, she recognized at once. It was her friend Alexis she had met at that inn awhile back. Selina had wondered where the elf had disappeared to and now she had found her.

It was the only noble thing to do, honoring a winner in a fight. She clapped softly, stepping forward from the crowd. To alexis she was probably just another strange figure in a cloak. Until she spoke that is.

"Wonderful play, m'friend. As graceful and nimble as always."

She stopped clapping and reached up, pulling back the hood so that her long red curls tumbled free and her green orbs met those blue ones.

 

[roleplaylifer]

Alexis

The soft stirrings of a gentle blush rose from the ruddy tanned skin of her normally jovial face. She hadn't been expecting an audience. Now it seemed that not only had an old friend managed to find her once more, but still others had gathered to witness the battle's outcome.

Too bad not a single soul had bothered to yell for a guardsman.....

Scowling for just a second, it wasn't the first time the bard cursed her mixed blood. She was just an oddity....especially in a city of humans.....a city this large.

She had strayed too close to the Sa'ek Kingdom, she knew.....had known before she arrived here. Still, perhaps the sight of Salina's countenance had been exactly what she had been looking for all along. Even since that night in the inn months ago when she had slipped from their bed, letting the swordswoman slumber peacefully. Nothing had happened between them.....her old friend having diligently tended some rather nasty battle wounds she had suffered.....but it had been awkward enough to leave her wanting the privacy of the open road....a chance to clear her mind.

Nodding curtly to her old friend, Alexis promptly turned her back on the princess in disguise. A few loping strides carried her just far enough away for her to retrieve the brace of saddlebags she had dropped in an alcove of the alleyway. Slinging the cargo over her shoulder, she spun back on one booted heel to flash a dashing smile at her reunited comrade.

"Graceful and nimble? Nay, lass. Just lucky as always.....one o' these days that luck'll be runnin out on me, then where'll I be?"

It was true she could fight like a demon when provoked, but it still irritated her greatly that she had let someone as noisy and flatfooted as that human rogue catch her off guard. She had been sloppy, and her fighting had mirrored that fact. She was fortunate indeed to have lived long enough to have picked up a dirty trick or two......

Sauntering slowly forward, her lone emerald eye narrowed dangerously at the crowd. Men and women all of a sudden felt a pressing need to be elsewhere....especially when the half-elven bard's fingertips dipped slowly to one thigh, brushing ever so softly against the hilt of one long knife.

Yet the market won out in the end, its never ending throng of commerce denying the pair of old friends any semblance of privacy. Indeed, Alexis found herself near screaming across the cacophony of the masses to be heard, the din most offensive to her sensitive ears.

Her lips pursed in irritation, she struck out once more, hoping Salina would follow. She had no clue where she was going, but any direction had to lead her away from all of this shouldn't it? Perhaps then, she could truly appreciate the companion that good fortune had reunited her with.....

 

[Sky Jade]

It seems that good fortune waasn't with them completely, espicially not with Selina. She had just pulled up her hood and was following after Alexis when a young lady dressed in an elegent dress stepped out in front of her. She cursed herself for a moment as looking so much like her mother, as she recognized one of the servents from the castle, despite it having been many years since she stepped foot there.

"Your majesty, we must return to the castle. It's not safe for you to be out like this. And in diguise even."

Selina clenched her fists under the robe as she responded to the servent.

"Look, I am not the Queen. I may look like her, but I am not the Queen. Now leave me be."

"But your Majesty..."

"I said I wasn't the Queen, now leave me be, please."

The lady looked confused for a moment before she gave a bow and disappeaered into the crowd. Selina shook her head before continuing through the crowd after her friend. She placed a hand lightly upon Alexis's shoulder for a moment.

"One of the smaller taverns would be a good place to grab a drink. What do you think?"

She glanced over towards a couple of wanted posters and stopped in her tracks. She ripped one of the down quickly and stared at it for several moments before she could speak.

"I don't believe this. This is the greeting I get after being away from home?"

She held up the poster for Alexis to see. It was a rough sketch of Selina, wanted for dragon-killing. The reward was pretty high and she was wanted alive.

 

[roleplaylifer]

Alexis' had sung in far too many ballrooms and courtyards in her lifetime to miss the practiced gait of one used to luxury. Though for just a moment, she had been thankful that Salina had reached out with a hand to stop her before she blindly picked a direction out of the marketplace, the brief flash of tension the action caused was only augmented by the arrival of this false "peasant."

Her suspicions were affirmed moments later, as the strikingly lovely woman spoke in lilting common tongue....practically begging Salina to return to the castle with her. The hardened she turned on Alexis only momentarily stunning the lovely bard into speechlessness....

"Look, I am not the Queen. I may look like her, but I am not the Queen. Now leave me be."

"But your Majesty..."

"I said I wasn't the Queen, now leave me be, please."

Thoroughly chagrined by the almost rude dismissal, the strange human girl paused for only a moment....before bowing respectfully and backing away to disappear withing the writhing throng of the market.

Still wondering just what the hell had happened here, Alexis shook herself out of the brief reverie, feeling Salina's warm hand tight upon her shoulder. Looking into the swordswoman's gentle eyes, the bard couldn't help but match the young woman's soft smile.

"One of the smaller taverns would be a good place to grab a drink. What do you think?"

Alexis nodded perhaps TOO quickly, eager in her agreement to leave this noisy place of bustling humanity. While never really hating crowds of a sort, having performed in front of more than she could count.....this kind of gathering grated roughly on her nerves.

It must have shown on her face, as Salina burst into a soft chuckle. Taking her bardic friend by the gloved hand, the two ladies wove their way through midday traffic to the tavern of Salina's choice.

Just as it seemed that she would finally be free of the day's misfortunes, Salina stopped. Scowling fiercely, the warrioress strode with purpose to the front wall of the tavern, angrily ripping a parchment from its surface to stare closely at it. Finally, the princess spun to face Alexis, thrusting its contents toward her.

Her eyes must have widened somewhat in her surprise, as Salina felt need to comment on her own wanted poster even as Alexis tried to absorb the shock of this new turn of events. There was a time when she would have attempted to collect a bounty that size. Such a sum could keep her drinking and telling tales for many a month to come, as well as buy her a few new choice pieces of armor, while probably leaving enough to purchase a spell or two.

"I don't believe this. This is the greeting I get after being away from home?"

Alexis felt dazed. If that had been her wanted poster, she'd not have been half as surprised. Hell, she had a half dozen of those things all over the continent. She half guessed the rogue she had fought earlier as having been attempting to collect one bounty or another. But Salina? Dragon slayer???

Reaching forward with lightening speed, tightly gloved hands closed firmly around her companions forearm, a truly grim look darkening her weathered face as this time she was the one leading.

Pulling the disguised princess into the tavern, it took a second for her eyes to adjust to the dimmer light of the barroom. Not waiting for an explanation just yet, the auburn haired half-elf gave an insistant jerk towards a corner table....their best shot at privacy in a seedy looking place such as this. There may have been a time yes....but even then she'd not have sold out her friends.

Finally releasing the now thoroughly pissed off Salina, the bard reached for the back of one stiff looking chair. Picking it up with little effort, she slammed it down onto the bare cedar planks of the tavern floor before depositing her butt rather unceremoniously into it, her scowl deepening further as she turned a baleful eye onto her old friend.

"Let me guess. Ye've got no fuckin clue what this is about?"

She doubted her sudden use of profanity would shock the princess, Salina had known her too long. A woman yes, but Alexis was hardly a lady....unless of course she wanted to be. Not even the stunned look of the closest patrons as they regarded her was enough to disuade her mood as she waited for her companion to speak.....

 

[devilsargument]

Sidereal Charms

The patrons of the tavern all stare at the rather outlandish display with a measure of trepidation. For some reason, Random who is amongst them, (and somewhat hard to miss, his gaunt height putting him a head taller than most), seems the least put off, though he does focus his attention on watching the two while he sips his tall beer, quietly. He focuses on them to the exclusion of watching the fellow who sits at the bar next to him. The fellow that has 'thief' written all over him.

As the two perhaps even note the intensity of the sorcerer's gaze, he is struck by the thief on the back of his head. Stars bloom and cascade over his vision and he gives a low growl, from his position on the floor. In a rather intriguing display, without even getting up, the air around the thief is abruptly filled with a quick burst of energy, which leaves the would be mugger stunned. The sorcerer pointedly takes his time moving to a standing position and then proceeds to divest the thief of his money. He points and the mugger is hurled from the bar by an unseen torrent of air, that miffs not one hair on anyone elses head. He very quietly goes back to his beer, as if nothing even slightly amiss had happened.

 

[Sky Jade]

Selina stared at the poster for a few more moemnts after they had sat down, trying to think of what could have caused this turn of events. Her back was to the rest of the tavern, so she had missed the little scene between the would-be thief and sorcerer.

"No, I have no clue about this, unless..."

Her thoughts began to wander as she tried to remember the first day she had met Rutha. It had only been a few weeks after she had set out on her own from the castle. She had decided to take an almost unused path through the mountains which bordered the western edge of the Seak Kingdom. It was on that trail that she had discovered a cave where a mother dragon and several of her young had recently been slaughtered. However one little dragon had survived and was hiding further back in the cave. She had just managed to coax the little one out when three soldiers entered the cave. They had been the ones who had killed the rest of the dragon family. They wore no identifying insignia on the armor or weapons, but they were quite upset that Selina was there and with one of the prey. It took a little bit of fighting, but Selina had managed to run the three of them off. Two of them were badly injured, but able to escape.

Selina's eyes went unfocused as she thought about this and then told it to Alexis in hushed tones. She crumpled the yellowed parchment up as she spoke before burning it over a candle.

"I still don't know who they were, but I am sure it might have been them. Though why this only happens now, I wish I knew. These had to have been made recently because I haven't had to deal with any bounty hunters."

Selina sighed softly as she laid her hand softly over one of Alexis's, holding it tightly.

"I think I should head home as soon as possible to try and get my parents to straighten things out."

Meanwhile the young lady who had stopped Selina earlier was still around. The woman had it in her pretty head that the warrioress was the Queen and needed to be taken back to the castle. She talked to the captain of the guard and he dispatched a few guards to search for Selina, thinking it was of her own best interest. Perhaps this would be a blessing in disguise for the two after all.

 

[roleplaylifer]

Never one to miss a story, Alexis kept an ear in rapt attention to Salina's story, her scowl deepening further...

While the princess' back may have been turned to not notice, the lovely half-elf had a pretty damn good view of what was going on....her eyes being directed almost immediately to the scene as a large man clubbed another patron over the head with a crude blackjack, obviously bent on robbery.

Her own hand easing slowly to her waist, practiced fingers tickled open complex locking mechanism that held an almost unnoticable length of slender cable to her waist in a makeshift belt....

It was then that she felt it, her expression changing swiftly to alarm as her one eye darted nervously back to her companion. Salina, lost in her own woeful tale of the past, hadn't seemed to notice the sudden rise of arcane energy from the room's center....or perhaps didn't have as much practice at recognizing it. The hairs on the nape of her neck nearly standing on end.....

Having spawned a few magical disasters of her own in the days of her youth, the bard bit her lower lip nervously as time seemed to freeze around the gaunt man's assailant. Seconds later, and a torrent of forced air propelled the man bodily across the room to crash heavily upon a vacant table, splintering the stout wood before the limp body slid to the ground. A soft whisper escaped her, even as she forced herself to tear her divided attention back to her friend.

"A wizard, great......just great."

Yet even as the brown robed man straightened himself out, her eyes widened as for just a second he glanced at their table, meeting the bard's curious stare with one of his own before going back to the brew he had been nursing. She didn't miss the star-like striations deep within his eyes.....

No....a sorcerer....and that makes him doubly as dangerous. So much fer tryin ta figure out what he just cast. That at least explains the lack o' chant. What the hell was that anyway? An interestin variant of a time stop spell?! If so, than he's powerful enough ta not be fuckin with.

Squirming nervously in her chair, Alexis tried as hard as she could to hear the finish of Salina's story. She was just barely granted her wish when the door swung open violently.....a heavily mustached man in fine plate armor, though curiously no helm, striding purposefully into the room with a half dozen guardsment in close pursuit.

Scanning the room's occupant's briefly, the bard's eyes narrowed dangerously as she saw a familiar figure stand up, gesturing toward their table. Reaching across its stout wooden surface, the bard nudged her companion meaningfully even as her other hand dropped once more under the table.

Nodding politely, the soldier made a bee-line straight for them. A heavy gauntleted hand laying easily on the sword at his side, the man gave Alexis a distinct look of distaste before pointedly ignoring her. Bowing graciously to Salina, causing more than one patron to stare in awkward silence with mouth hanging, the tavern burst into hushed whispers as the rumors to be told for the next month began their busy circulation.

"My queen, it is not safe here. I fail to see why someone of your stature would insist on a place such as this.....surely there are more appropriate ways to find leisure and relaxation? Come, my men and I have come to return you to the castle. A......concerned citizen has informed us of your presence. Surely you would not compromise the integrity of myself and my men?"

Even as the commander of the watch spoke, his steely gaze kept flicking back and forth between Alexis and his "liege." It came as no surprise then as the fiery tempered bard shot to her feet, steel drawn and irritated beyond belief. Heedless of the six tin plated humans flanking their commander until the instantly fanned out to flank him at her hasty action, her already pensive face twisted into a snarl...

"She's told ye, she's not the queen. And what she's doin with her time be none o' yer affair. Now I've nae committed a crime in yer city.....yet.....but I'm not about ta put it past me just yet either. Leave us in peace fer a change, dammit. I've had one blade er another waved in me face since I've set foot in this city, and damned if yer taken the one person who's makin sense ta me right now."

"It seems to me, dear lady, that you're a touch out of place....answering for her Highness. Men!"

His words had dripped sarcasm, yet another insult to her lineage to be shrugged off. But the actions of the guardsmen had been sharp enough, each reaching for their weapon with clockwork precision. Unfortunately, the bard was faster.

For the first time since his combat, she saw the brown robed man look up from his drink. A curious cock of the head brought his gaze directly in the path of hers again, she could only hope he wouldn't interfere......

In her travels, she had learned a great many things, and had mastered none of them.....such was the life of a bard......

Only the trained ears of the sorcerer, and those immediately around her could here the soft chanting of an arcane lesson from so long ago and even fewer were able to translate...

Shimmering like glass, let noone see
The trap that lays before them
Just one misstep, then they can see
The spell that's meant to floor them.
Grease

The few guards nearest her had backed off nervously at the start of her chant, earning themselves a hard scowl from their commander. As she finished with no apparent ill effect, the courage of the troops was galvanized, each starting forward almost immediately towards their half elven prey.....only to be stunned as their own booted feet shot out from underneath them.

Grabbing the edge of the table, Alexis laughed merrily at her floundering tormenters, enduring a slightly....annoyed look by Salina? Hauling her lithe frame on top of the rounded wooden table, she surveyed her surroundings with a brief chuckle.

At least now she was in a better mood.

 

[devilsargument]

Improving moods

Random catches Alexis eye for a moment and if she is not greatly mistaken, he gives her a grin, as if caught doing something a trifle sloppy. He had not expected to be so soon under the watchful of another Arcanist so soon. Even if the sound of her voice (how melodic) seems to indicate her training is in something other than out and out magic. He glances at the confrontation welling, and gives a meaningful look to the bard, but if he reads things correctly, it looks like he's to allow Alexis to handle things.

He seems well resolved to do just that, sipping his beer quietly and watching with some small amount of enjoyment as Alexis so easily bests the guards, though of course, he anticipates their renewing their attempt with vigor. He gives a grin at the thought of perhaps, maybe joining in, though he is far too civil to those he doesn't know to ever presume to cut. A thread of power speaks to Alexis, "If you need me, I am for you..." The mindspeech is lightning quick and no real sense of his actual voice can be gleaned, nor is it evident that he could hear or understand a reply. Evidently mentalism is not a strong suit, and seeing what he did to his assailant other silent forms of communication might be deafening coming from him. He stands, leaning against the bar, watching the progressing confrontation, draining his beer to the dregs and setting it along with a copper to one side for the keeper.

The keeper seems a great deal more concerned placating the captain of the guard, and the ineffectual man is quickly pushed to one side as, at last the captain and three or four guards make their feet and stand fast.

Having a problem with authority it is very, very natural for the Sorcerer to side with the two, and he takes the innkeeper to one side, speaking quietly to him. His voice is surprisingly resonant, however, and possessed of a calm even quality...at least currently, "Listen, neighbor. Whether the stone hits the pitcher, or the pitcher hits the stone, things tu," he pauses in the middle for just a moment as the coin he put down sparks the finger of an urchin that tries to pinch it, while the innkeeper is distracted, "rn out badly for the pitcher...perhaps you should stay out of it, hmm?" His voice is distinctly western, with a rolling accent that makes him sound as if he is from one of the moutain duchies.

----\-\
OOC: Don't want to step on anyones toes, just as a standing thing, you can freely involve my character in pretty much anything. I'll pick it up on my post without question, generally, but I'm a little uncomfortable RPing for others, especially as I don't know any of you yet,
Regards,
-D-

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Miranda arrives

Miranda bowed deeply to the caravan master, and passed gold across his palm for his graciousness. It had been a grueling voyage from the land of the Sacred Rivers, across desert, steppe, and through forest. This man had graciously given her a berth in his own waggon, and generously shared food and wine with her. They had shared embraces as well, from time to time. He had been more than respectful, allowing and sharing her sacrifices to her goddess, and the two bonded closely ... though each knew the day would come that the caravan would reach its terminus, and they would part forever. Today was that day, and Miranda's generous payment to him cemented in him a sense of devotion. If she ever again needed anything ....

Having paid, Miranda began to move through the town. The realm was patterned strange to her. Many trees, plants, and lush vegetation was in evidence, though there was not River in evidence. In her homelands, much would be barren except for the shores of the Sacred Rivers, where the Cities and Temples rose up out of the flatlands.

She saw a snake slithering before her, softly flapping its wings that Miranda would know she was to follow her lead. Kilili the Beautiful Bounteous so often had her servants, the winged serpents, lead her Faithful to where they had need to be.

Through narrow streets paved with cobble-stones, past strange, pale-skinned men and women, many not human, Miranda followed the winged serpent as it slithered through these strange streets.

To an inn. The little sly one rose up, its snake-smile beguiling, and it hissed, "Here it is, that you shall be. From here you shall find the goddess' will in this strange land. Ninkharak's blessing upon you."

The snake rose to the sky on its wings, and vanished into the clouds. Miranda took in a deep breath, and passed through the door, into the tight, heavy, smoky interior.

She blinks until her eyes adjust to the dim light, looking around at a sea of strange faces. Knowing no one, uncertain what the goddess wished of her in this place, she walked deeper within the establishment, saying a quick prayer to her mistress in her heaven-castle, and sat at the bar. She remained quiet as she read the placard behind the bar, slowly and laboriously translating to herself the foreign characters to her native language. The strange characters, the left-to-right order of their order, the strange grammatical rules of this language, all made the effort slow. As she tried to decipher the available drinks, she could feel, very faintly, the tug of her goddess, just on the edge of her awareness, trying to tear her from minutiae of no significance, and to events occurring around her that were of greater importance ....

 

[Sky Jade]

Selina was about to say something to the guard, but she was interrupted by Alexis. She gave an inaudible sigh as things seemed a little out of hand at the moment. She waited till the little show was over, holding back a chuckle herself. She shoot Alexis a look of annoyance before she pushed the chair back and stood up.

"Captain, stand your men up. As my friend here was said, and as I have already stated, I am not the Queen. Yes, I may look like her, but I am not her."

She reached up and pulled the dark hood back, letting her dark red curls tumble free again. As she spoke, she pulled her hands back inside her cloak, rummaging through the small bag on her belt. She was glad she had not thrown away the signet ring that her mother had passed to her without her father's knowledge. She only hoped that her mother would forgive her for this.

She pulled her hand out to show it to the commander of the watch, a large ring the ring finger of her right hand. The band was a beautiful golden color, inset with a few small diamonds. On the top was a sword entwined by two snakes, a small black pearl set in the hilt of the sword, the signet of the Sa'ek royal family. She had enchanted her ring to keep it from getting dirty or fading away.

"I am however Princess Selina, daughter of Queen Esmeralda and King Roland. Since you seem to be so interested in my well-being, I have a couple of requests for you. First, you take down all those wanted posters of me. They are an embarrasment to my family for the spreading of such lies. Second, you are to procure transportation for me, something able to carry a large animal with us to the castle. Is that understood?"

The guards had managed to get themselves upright, wary of the area where Alexis had cast her grease spell. She pulled her hand back into her cloak, dropping the ring back into the bag as the commander stiffen up and saluted her.

"I am sorry M'lady, we did not mean anything by this. I shall do what I can about the transportation, but it will take some time. As for the posters, they are not my juridiction, but I shall see what can be done. Please excuse us."

He held the salute till Selina nodded to him briefly, after which there was a mad dash by the commander and his men to the door. She sat down with a sigh and a weary smile to Alexis.

"At least some good will come of all this nonsense. We also have to get more information about the orc attacks. They are getting restless I have heard."

 

[Pywakit]

Kalisto

Kalisto started awake to the sound of the man's body slamming into the bar. It took her a moment to clear her vision and remember where she was... but the sight of the tavern full of momentarily shocked patrons brought it back quickly enough. The man who had just slammed into the bar crumpled to the ground, and the wizard who had put him there was going through his pockets.

She sighed quietly from her corner booth. Lucky bastard. Oh... to be able to defend ones self in a public place and not be labeled a monster. Her hand slipped into a pouch at her belt and verified what she already knew. Her coin purse was empty, save for a few tired silver coins. Hardly enough for dinner, and certainly not enough for a private room to sleep in. She looked down at her table, the one she'd been asleep at since... what... dawn? What time was it? Her head still felt stuffy from the bottles of ale she'd used the night before to aid her sleep, and there on the table before her, was the last one. Half empty. She took off a red leather glove and held the glass bottle in a delicate pale hand, and concentrated. In only a few seconds, the ale inside was boiling merrily. Kalisto smiled in satisfaction; cold drinks were so disgusting!

As she sipped at the steaming ale (gotta make it last!) another local drama was playing out. Some soldiers had entered the tavern, but before Kalisto could shrink back into hiding in her booth, they crossed to the other side of the taproom to confront a pair of quite attractive women there. They were too far away to make out words, but it soon became apparent that it wasn't a happy visit when one of the women leapt to her feat, shouted, and suddenly the soldiers were tumbling apart from the effects of her spell. Kalisto smiled to herself, and remembered the time she'd lit a taproom on fire when the guards had come for her. Things had gone much worse at that time than now, and as the guards left, she again sighed softly. She saw one of the women, the bard, exchange a glance with the lanky wizard... interesting! Did these two know each other then?

Kalisto's thoughts were stolen from her as another figure entered the already crowded tavern, and this time she did shrink back in her booth. A priestess! What the hell was a priestess doing here? Kalisto could think of only one reason... that damn bastard of an agent Kordelo had done more than skip town with the money he owed her for that last job: he'd sold her out to the church, and now this priest was here to find her! Kalisto's heart was pounding, and she felt that damnable (yet familiar) heat rising inside her. She closed her eyes, willed the fire to subside, and took a deep breath. The priestess had not seemed to notice her yet. Maybe she wasn't here for her after all...

Kalisto swept up the bottle of ale and downed the remainder in one swift gulp. If she was to be brought back to the church in irons... she'd at least get her money's worth out of her last bottle.

 

[Lotharian]

Gimric charged down the hill as fast as his legs could carry him. He didn't even look behind him as he made his way down the valley. His face had gone nearly as red as his beard as he made his way towards the exit of the valley. Behind him, were about seven dire boars.

He had disrupted their den and stirred up a little more trouble than he had hoped.

But he's a DWARF! Genius' of all things!

And when Gimric came out of the valley, he proved the beauty of planning for the worst. Most enemies would think his diving forward at the end of the valley would be foolish, but Dire Boars don't have the intellect for that. And that's when they hit the trip wire.

A whole basket of spears came from above, right down upon the seven boars along with a variety of other sharp things he could get his hands on. It was a simple trip wire mechansms that ANYONE could set up. At least a Dwarf could handle it no problem. With a mighty howl, a couple of them feel over from the wounds, but for the most part they were mostly maimed.

With a roar Gimric took his axe from his back. "TASTE DWARVEN STEEL YE UGLY BASTARDS!" Gimric shouted as he jumped at the wounded boars to finish them off.

-------A long and dramatic battle later---------

Gimric threw the last of the meat unto the wagon he was given by the town. The innkeeper promised the Dwarf a couple of weeks of cost of food and board for some Dire Boar meat. And Gimric just took down seven! Gimric smirked at his overloaded wagon as he tied up the ropes to secure his cargo.

He had been gored a couple of times, but he was a Dwarf! Nothing that his superior body couldn't handle. He'd just need a bit of bed rest and it would be just fine. Gimric patted the donkey granted him and gave it a whip as it made it's way towards the nearby city to get his reward!

With a hard shout and a smack with a the blunt of his axe, the donkey heaved along the path. It was having some troubles with the load, but it was doing pretty well in handling itself. About another hour or two and he'd be back in town and with a hearty pint of ale.

"OHHHhhhhhh ye wee beasties
Look out where ya lay!
Fer Gimric o' the Ironforge
Comes fer yer head toDAY!

Bore o' the mighty clans
And master o' all trades
I be the greatest Dwarf about
And doubt me an be... uhm... DEAD!"

Gimric began to sing as he made his way down the path to the tune of an old drinking song. He was looking forward to sharing more with the obviously grateful people. And maybe he could earn some coin with those fools who think to test the drinking ability of a Dwarf.

------------A long and uneventful ride later-------------

Gimric pulled the cart down the alley-side of the inn and knocked thrice, twice, and thrice upon the back door. In a moment the door clicked three times and the door came open and a man in a horrible dirty apron and a greased face came out. It was the Chef of the inn.

"So you're Master Ironforge huh? Now where's this 'Board Meat'?" the Chef asked, his voice resounding with sarcasim, as if expecting the Dwarf to have failed and with a grin, Gimric stepped aside and pointed down the alley to the cart.

The Chef came out and scratched his head. "What are you pointing at?"

Gimric's prideful look suddenly vanished as he looked down the alley and the cart was gone. In a huff Gimric was off and pulling the flintlock rifle from it's holster on his back. Bleeding thievies. EVERYWHERE! No Dwarf could get a moments peace in these human lands....

When Gimric came around the side to the street, he saw the cart going down the street. Gimric brought the rifle at the ready, and tried to line up a shot. He fired a beautiful shot. It tore through the air like the thunder of Moradin's anvil! It made with the speed of a cheetah and the grace of an Elven Shadowdancer towards it's mark.

Which just happened to be a nearby street-lamp.

"FECKING USELESS! Obviously made by those damn Gnomes! Could nae be Dwarven!" Gimric shouted as he ran down the street after the cart. "GET BACK HERE YA THEIVING GIT!"

Quickly Gimric was upon the cart with axe in hand. He lost valuable time to that 'rifle'. He'd be sure to modify it with a DWARVEN sent of locks and flint. That'd fix that problem. The overloaded cart was easy to catch up with. Quickly was the dark man who was the meat thief thrown from the cart, along with the Dwarf.

They rolled in the street, the Dwarf giving punches to his face and the man (he seemed to be an older fellow) grunted in return and tried to throw the fierce Dwarf off him. Quickly were there guards upon the scene and took ahold of him and pulled him off and away.

"GET OFF ME YA SODS! I'LL RIP THAT WEE BASTARD TO SHREDS!" Gimric roared in anger, struggling against the three guards that were holding back the now bleeding Dwarf. His exertion ripped open the wounds again....

The Chef came charging unto the scene with a shocked look on his face and went to the theif's side. Gimric's beard twitched. So... take pity on the human? It was because he was a Dwarf! They were too busy with jealousy of the Dwarves to give him the praise he should be getting for defeating that theif.

"Are you mad!?! This is old Fred! He always takes the excess meat we have. We normally throw on this cart this time of day.... Oh." The chef suddenly realized what all had happened as Gimric was still breathing heavily in his righteous Dwarven anger. The old man however was just looking on in fear.

"Well YOU Ol' Man 'ad best not just be takin' carts o' meat before asking! It be RUDE ta do so. Just taught ya manners the... uhm... Dwarven Way." Gimric said as he began to cool down. Gimric nodded to himself in satisfaction with his excus-er-reasoning. Gimric turned towards the tavern door with a nod to himself made his way onwards. "An' I expect ta be gettin' paid fer that one too!"

With a grunt, Gimric pushed the door open, just narrowly missing the young woman on the other side. She worry very bizzare dress. Like nothing he'd seen since leaving the mountain. But then again, most of these humans dressed oddly. "Sorry 'bout that miss! Must of clunked me 'ead a wee bit outside."

Quickly though, Gimric made his way away from the door and looked to the barkeep. "Alright! I be needin' cloth, an' 'ot poker, an' some o' the good stuff!"

 

[roleplaylifer]

With a dismissive wave of her hand, Alexis dispelled the now pointless Grease spell. Her grin never wavered as she met Salina's annoyed gaze and the captain's huff with a saucy wink, lowering herself on the table before sliding slowly off its surface, painfully aware of how even her bulky leathers clung to her frame with such an action. The naughty bard was rewarded as her oppressor's visage changed almost instantly from annoyance....to confusion....to something a little stronger.....all in the blink of an eye.

"I'll just leave the two o' ye here ta sort things out, aye? Think we've made our point, and I'm glad ta hear ye'll be givin us nae more greif. I fer one have had enough fer one day."

Sauntering slowly to the bar, the bard shied almost instinctively away from a larger woman at the end of the bar who looked a little too far into her cups. A third fight in one day simply would not do.

Tossing a pair of silvers onto the polished surface of the bar, she tossed her fiery mane back behind her shoulders once more as she favored the barkeep with a sultry smile.

"I'll be havin wintermist, if'n ye don't mind. And another flagon o' yer ale fer the sorcerer o'er there. Its much appreciated that he'd not been bent on spoilin my fun."

While the rotund little man glanced nervously at the brown robed patron, perhaps connecting the title "sorcerer" to him for the first time today after his earlier display, he nevertheless scuttled off busily to fulfill her request.

Seconds later, a bottle and two goblets heavier, she returned to the still arguing Salina. Just as it seemed she may need to go back for a reluctant third glass....the captain spun on his heel....his men following in close pursuit, but only after several baleful stares cast in her direction.

"Drink up? Its good fer ye.....best wine the northern province of Andvyar has ta offer. And not as strong as that elven stuff I fed ye back at the inn a few months ago.....still can't believe that rogue downed the whole glass...."

Finding her seat once more, the bard's eyes shifted nervously towards the door as another tall, curvaceous female entered....her robes and vestments easily marking her as a priestess.....

But if she was a surprise....the next arrival was an alarm as the doors of the tavern exploded outward, narrowly missing the poor woman as a dwarf stomped into the room!

"Alright! I be needin' cloth, an' 'ot poker, an' some o' the good stuff!"

Alexis could almost feel her head bounce gently off the hard surface of the table as she sighed. A dwarf.....how long had it been since she'd seen one of those?

Sigh....

"It has to have been at least a half dozen years er so...."

Not really realizing that she was speaking aloud, she turned back to the increasingly chaotic scene the tavern room was becoming. Nudging the priestess softly, a quick nod of her head indicated the dwarf easily enough.

"Ye can do some minor healing, aye? Like ye did on me that time I let that rogue stab me back at the inn? If yon priestess won't help 'im out, will ye do the honors? Consider it a favor ta me. The Northmen I stayed with most o' my life got along just fine with the men o' the earth, and I'd like ta be stayin on speakin terms with this one. Ye do this fer me, and I'll help umm....bodyguard ye back ta that castle o' yers so ye don't hafta listen ta that dry ol' fart of a captain what came lookin fer ye."

Alexis threw herself back in her chair....folding her hands neatly behind her head as her own merry gaze met that of her old friend....

"Awright....I'll be honest. Was plannin on it anyway. Don't like skippin out on an old friend so soon after our reunion's been met."

And just as fast, her hands came unfolded again as she leaned forward across the table towards Salina.

"But ye'll do it anyway, aye?"

 

[PredatorX]

Vanis Karany

Vanis Karany sat perfectly still on his stool at the corner of the room with his back towards the wall. When the magic user sent his opponent crashing he smiled coldly to himself. He was about to take a sip from his ale when some soldiers entered. Vanis narrowed his eyes while pulling the hood of his hooded cloak over his head. He saw the leader of the soldiers searching the room with his eyes. Hoping they didn´t look for him, Vanis consentrated on his ale while secretly eying the soldiers from the corner. He had no doubt he could outrun them if needed, even kill some of them but there weren´t any guarantees he would not be injured in the process. As the soldiers moved to a table where there sat two ladies, Vanis lost all interrest in the soldiers as they were no concern for him.

One of the ladies made an spectable of the soldiers, rather amusing if he hadnt been in such a sour mood. Right after a dwarf stormed in.
"Alright! I be needin' cloth, an' 'ot poker, an' some o' the good stuff!"

"So much for quiet relaxation" Vanis muttered under his breath.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Miranda's head was grasped firmly but gently by the soft, feminine hands of Ninkharak, her shining brown eyes and dog-nuzzle face consuming Miranda's vision for a moment. Then as chaos errupted, Miranda became aware once more of the world about her.

"Alright! I be needin' cloth, an' 'ot poker, an' some o' the good stuff!"

She was nudged also by an elven woman, but this was unneeded. She was on her feet, and approached the dwarf with a soft smile, and paying no mind to the general sense around her, of the disreputability of dwarves. She was pledged to help all human-kin, dwarf or no, and this one's injuries were fairly minor .. for Ninkharak's power they were minor at least.

"Sir warrior," she said in a loud but musical voice, heavily accented as she spoke a language she had only lately learned, and was alien to her.

"Sir warrior, not such ways need you. I have pledged to be of service in the name of my goddes Ninkharak, blessed healer-queen of heaven. I can seal your wounds, knit up your cuts, staunch your bleedings, if only you will permit me to do the work of my goddess."

Her gaze met that of the dwarf, with a look of kindly tolerance, unaware of the many strange looks she was receiving from those around her in the bar. She was unaware that many around her considered her out of place. In her homelands, the priestess-prostitutes were out of place no where, and prohibited from no activities that were needful or wantful -- save only the willfull harm of a human-kin if it was not needed to defend self or other ....

 

[devilsargument]

Random seems to have an innate wariness of Divinity, and he shys from the priestess, for the time being. As Alexis buys him another ale, he throws her a smile, rather too full of teeth, and scoops up the ale. He drinks, whole heartedly, but as he is doing so, he scans the room, which seems much more interesting than when he last saw it. For some reason, he catches Kallisto's brief examination of him. Being a sorcerer, he seems unbothered that he may have attracted so much attention. He sips the ale, his lank form seeming completely at ease and unwilling to move, for the nonce.

Kallisto can feel his eyes (when she looks, she can see how strangely marked his eyes are) resting on her body, drifting up to linger at her face. He finishes his examination and turns himself back to watch the dwarves reaction to the priestess, and then his eyes rest on the table where Salina and Alexis sit. He watches the attractive pair, for sometime, before he again makes to finish his beer. Those familiar with magic can feel him coil some into himself, awaiting an appropriate moment for release. In the meanwhile though, holding the energy with little effort, he moves to find a washroom or chamberpot to relieve himself in before he goes. He moves off into a side hall and finds a door marked with the picture of a tipsy drunk male. He pushes that door open...

 

[Sky Jade]

Selina had barely heard Alexis about the drink until after the captain had gone. She giggled softly seeing the bottle for a moment. A good drink was exactly what she needed after the past few events. She grabbed the bottle and popped the cork, pouring a glass for herself and then Alexis.

"Drawfs? It's been awhile since I saw one."

She took a sip of her wine as she turned to take a look at the rest of the tavern for the first time. This place had it's assortment of characters it seemed. She gave a little smile back to Alexis as she requested healing of her for the dwarf and then tried to go about bribing her. She shook her head softly before taking another sip.

She set the goblet down and stood up, leaning over and giving a kiss to her friend's forehead. She grinned and sat down once more, scooting her chair so she took take another look at the rest of the tavern.

"Even though you've asked, it seems the priestess beat me to him. Somehow the dress and style seems familiar to me, but I can't place it at the moment. Well, shall we see what she is able to do? If she does need help, I don't mind giving it to her."

She drank about half her glass before setting it down gently. She licked her lips for a moment and gave Alexis a kiss on the cheek softly for a moment.

"Thanks for helping me out."

 

[PredatorX]

Vanis Karany

Vanis follows the wizard with his eyes. When the wizard have left to another room, Vanis Looks back to Alexis, then to the priestess and the dwarf.

Suddenly he realises that he had drank up his ale while studying the rooms inhabitants. Slowly he stands up and heads to the barkeep.

"Fill up my goblet" He says with his low voice.

The barkeep looks at him and says smilingly.

"This be your third goblet today, celebrating something?"

Vanis smiles coldly back to him and responds.

"Well, let´s say like this, i am alive and well. So reason to celebrate don´t you think?"

The barkeep fills his goblet and leans towards Vanis.

"Just curious, that´s all. This is the first time you drink more than one goblet in here"

Without responding, Vanis sips his ale while turning and looks around the room once again.

 

[roleplaylifer]

Renault Thrymik

It seems that he had chosen a poor moment to enter the marketside establishment. For long minutes had he fought to curb his own impatience as he watched her and her new companion stroll leisurely into the tavern, the wait for them to emerge growing longer and longer.......

Renault hissed silently under his breath as the doors swung around him on their well oiled hinges. He hadn't been expecting a dwarf, much less a wounded one at that.

Well, at least he seems to be drawing the attention of the room.

Indeed, very few had even taken note of him yet, not that there would have been much to see. Swathed in an undistinct grey cloak, intent on not causing a scene, the swarthy man edged closer to the wall, his eyes constantly roving, studying first one patron....than another......

An almost audible sigh of relief escaped him as he watched what could only be a magic user stand up dramatically before excusing himself to the boys room. That one could have been trouble.....not like he would make a move here anyway.

A priestess....the dwarf.....a very large looking woman on the end of the bar....and what have we here?

Renault frowned softly as his gaze seemed to have been met squarely by a similarly dressed man already seated. A silent gesture...a handsignal between the two...and both men slowly eased their hands away from their secreted blades. It would not do to start a fight here.....

Instead, he emerged from the shadows of the far side of the room, walking with purpose now. Moving silently, easily dodging the barmaid as she spun towards him with her heavy trencher of dishes.....the dark-haired man moved ever closer to Vanis' table.

Even as he sat down, he could see the man's trepidation clearly written on his face. Would he try something yet?

"You're not my mark, friend. I'm just here to see that you're not after the same bounty that I am."

Whispered gently, there was no hope of any patrons hearing him over the dwarf's caterwauling and the priestess' chanting of her healing rituals. With a soft nod, he gestured almost undescriptively toward the table with the two women.

"So what brings you here, friend? Business or pleasure?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alexis o' the Vale

With a contented sigh, Alexis sank back into the comfort of her chair, more than happy to just be sharing a drink again with an old friend. Gone were any thoughts of performing or trying to earn a coin tonight. Business as usual could wait.

Besides....hadn't she already earned herself a fortune? Just by being in the right place at the wrong time no less! Her thoughts turned briefly to the saddlebags she had layed beneath the table and their precious contents. If only the dwarf could see that!

Chuckling softly to herself, she wasn't really surprised to see Salina cock a curious eyebrow in her direction even as she lifted the offered goblet to her lips for another sip. The wine was good, not the best year she'd had, but certainly not the worst.

Nodding softly at Salina's admonition, she had actually been hoping the priestess would go to the aid of the stricken dwarf. But Alexis above few others, knew exactly how fickle a thing like race could be when influencing others decisions.

"Thanks for helping me out."

The bard's face split into a radiant smile, flashing nearly perfect teeth at the curvaceous warrior, even tilting her head slightly to accept the kiss as Salina leaned forward.

"With my track record with authority figures, ye think I'd let him bully ye into doin what he wanted?"

She didn't really expect an answer, her own flippant attitude sufficing for the moment.

"Aye, let's go check up on him then. I'd hate ta hafta listen ta his rumblin fer the rest o' the night."

Standing easily enough, this time the bard did not forget to retrieve the fallen saddlebags. Slinging them easily beneath her shoulder, the distraction caused her to miss the barroom's newest arrival....even as he strode openly across the room and seated himself.

 

[PredatorX]

Vanis Karany

As Vanis had seated again he noticed a stranger clothed in a garment simular to his own. their gazes locked for some seconds. An assassin he thought to himself. Slowly he took a throwing dagger from his belt under the table, keeping an eye on the stranger.

A silent gesture...a handsignal between the two...and both men slowly eased their hands away from their secreted blades.

Vanis kept looking at the stranger as he kept moving towards his own table, very elegantily avoiding a serving maid on the way.

With his body to react at the flash of a second Vanis waited perfectly still to see what the stranger would do when he reached the table. The man sat down in front of Vanis and whispered.

"You're not my mark, friend. I'm just here to see that you're not after the same bounty that I am." Saying that the stranger nods towards the two women.

Casting a quick glance towards the two women and then back towards the stranger, Vanis smiles coldly at him.

"So what brings you here, friend? Business or pleasure?"

"I do not have friends and my business is my own." Vanis growled silently.

 

[Lotharian]

Gimric eyed up the woman before him suspiciously as he stroked his beard. Dwarves were hard to give out trust, espeically to magic users divine or otherwise. The only magic wielders a Dwarf would trust is a son of Moradin, the Dwarf Father. The Dwarves fully believed the greatest God was Moradin and that he would provide for all their needs. After all, a Dwarf only needs the anvil, the hammer, the materials, and the mountains. Food more or less came from what they killed with the steel Moradin gave them.

"Hrm... An how'd I be trustin' one who has nae givin' me their name ta be throwin' about magic?" Gimric said, his voice lining the suspicion he felt towards her. "I be Gimric o' the MIGHTY clan Ironforge."

But he DID need healing. And he didn't want to go at himself with a firepoker. Who does? Bloody boars getting a lucky hit scored on him! Or two. Gimric's hand was back to stroking his beard and his eyebrow twitched about.

"FINE! Ya can be healin' me if yer so pushy fer it. Better than usin' tha' poker. Prolly got all matter o' crap on it tha' would corrupt me wounds." Gimric grumbled to the priestess before she had the chance to survive. Gimric plopped himself down unto a barstool.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

"Hrm... An how'd I be trustin' one who has nae givin' me their name ta be throwin' about magic?" Gimric said, his voice lining the suspicion he felt towards her. "I be Gimric o' the MIGHTY clan Ironforge."

She bowed low before him.

"Miranda Kililisdaughter humble slave of the goddess Ninkharak and the goddess Kilili."

"FINE! Ya can be healin' me if yer so pushy fer it. Better than usin' tha' poker. Prolly got all matter o' crap on it tha' would corrupt me wounds."

Miranda grinned at his gruffness, and closed her eyes, placing her hands upon his wounds, nor being shy about the hot, sticky blood beneath her hands. She began a quiet chant of healing, and could feel Ninkharak's hand rest upon her head, and upon the Dwarves' as well.

She felt the wounds close up, and the familiar burning sensation deep at the core of her being as the hurt was taken from his body and brought into her soul, from which the goddess would then remove it forever from the world of being.

The onlookers might have seen a slight glow where her hands touched the dwarf, but it was slight ... and ended shortly.

Miranda staggered away from the dwarf, steadying herself on the table where Alexis and Selina sat ....

 

[Sky Jade]

Selina giggled softly and shook her head at Alexis's comments. No, she didn't have to say anything. She refilled her cup as she watched the priestess work her magic. She leaned forward a little, tilting her head curiously.

She sat the goblet down quickly as the young priestess began to stagger a little. She stood up and placed her hands on Miranda's shoulder gently to steady her as well.

"Easy there. Try not extert yourself so much next time. Please, take a seat."

She smiled to the dwarf as well.

"Care to have a stout mug of ale? I'll buy the first round."

 

[roleplaylifer]

The bard's chin rested thoughtfully on her chest for just a moment, regarding the newest of arrivals. While fatigued from her impromptu healing, the priestess seemed to be recovering quickly enough....

It was the dwarf and the sorcerer that continued to interest Alexis the most, however. Especially when the former had just introduced himself as Gimric of the MIGHTY Ironforge clan.

Even as he neared their table, accepting Salina's offer readily enough, the bard fixed him with her one eyed gaze.

"Ironforge clan? That suggests a family of smithey's, aye? Don't suppose yer own occupation lay down that path if'n yer so inclined?"

Having spent many seasons with the barbaric men of the North, the dwarf's near mirroring of her accent stirred many a pleasant memory within her. Her stay had been warm and cozy indeed, and in return...she had left many a young lad's bed in just such a condition. The training she had to endure to learn the old battle skirls of the skalds of the North. A faint, wistful smile traced its way across her face.

As the brown robed sorcerer came back into the scene, she raised her hand, flagging him down as he left the restroom. Perhaps not accustomed to such attention, she noticed a slight hesitation before he apparently made some inner decision....his soft shod feet carrying him to their table with just a few strides.

"Pull up a chair, have a seat. There be a thing er two, I'd like ta speak of ta ye, if'n ye don't mind. And I think its best that ye hear it in the presence of our good dwarf, Gimric here."

Noting the dwarf actually put down his ale for a moment in surprise, especially after hearing his name used with strong implications with the new arrival, he looked up to find her grinning at him openly....a strong glint of....hope?....buried deep within that lone emerald orb.....

"First off, introductions? Welcome ta our table, and I'm glad ta see everyone's back in fine health once more."

Nodding politely to Gimric, she continued.

"Alexis o' the Vale, at yer service. Gimric, I believe we all caught your introduction, as well as perhaps yers, Miranda?"

A few chuckles resounded from that small corner of the room, as memories drifted back to the dwarf's blustery enterance. Turning to the sorcerer, her face sobered into a more serious look quickly.....

"Yet I confess ta bein overly curious as ta what ta call ye, friend. Not too many people can control the arcane as swiftly and precisely as what ye just did. Not ta mention, if I'm not mistaken, ye actually made ta speak with my mind earlier?"

The thought of this being possible, unsettled Alexis a little, never having encountered such a thing in all her long years of travel. Her mind had always been the most private of places for her to retreat to in times of duress. That someone could access it so easily......

Yet the bard silently shook off the troublesome worries, a more pressing matter thrusting its way into her rapidly working mind.

"I'm sure yer wonderin why I called ye here, and I ask fer just a moment's more patience. There's something I need ta be askin Gimric."

The air hung heavy for just a moment as each man and woman paused to hear what she had to say.

"Was I correct in assumin ye come from a clan of smithey's, as yer name suggests?"